The process of my Photoshop pixel explosion effect.

1. To quickly select
a subject instead
of using the
magnetic lasso
tool I have used
the quick
selection tool
which
automatically
selects in a more
accurate way.
Then I layered via copy
First I selected the background layer
Then I selected the rectangle marquee tool and
selected the area around the model.

2. Duplicate layer 2
Use free transform to drag your
layer 2 and increase the edges and
sizes, this part determines the size
of the effect
Now select layer 2 and
create a mask using
this button. NOW
REPEAT THIS LAST
STEP AGAIN WITH
YOUR LAYER 2 COPY
Now fill in the mask with a black fill
tool.

3. Now chose the brush tool and select
square brushes and adjust the size
to around 18 then press the toggle
tool which is the button next to the
brush selection which brings up the
screen on the right and then select
scattering: 1000%
Count: 1
Count jitter 100%

4. Now click on the shape dynamics
box
Size jitter: 90%
Minimum diameter: 0%
And keep the rest as default
Then just scatter the brush around
the image using the keys “[ and ]” to
increase and decrease the size of
the brush. And then select layer 2
copy and scatter the brush around
the outside of the image

5. Select blending options and select
drop shadow tool and select the
level of opacity that works for you.
Then just make all your layers visible
again. I changed the colour of my
background and went for a darker
colour which I prefer.